Method for corn seed sizing

ABSTRACT

Flat screens are used to size corn seed into sizes separated by width and thickness. By combining these screens into modular machines, multiple sizes can be made inside each machine. By combining several modular machines, two to eight sizes or more can be made in the assembled system. The modular machines have divider pans and multiple collection pans; this creates the flexibility of the system by having different seed flows and number of seed sizes. The movement of the seed across the flat screens is very gentle and reduces mechanical damage to the seed. Assembly of the screens layers and how they are used in the flow of seed is unique.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OF DEVELOPMENT

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REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISK APPENDIX

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. This invention pertains to agricultural processes and more particularto the process of sizing corn seed. Corn seed and other seeds have beensized for many years for two basic reasons: purity and plant ability.This sizing has been accomplished by using both flat and cylindricalscreens with round and slotted holes. The round holes were used to makea width separation of the seed and the slotted holes were used to make athickness separation of the seed.

2. Several manufacturers have made the cylinder style of seed sizingmachines. This cylindrical design only allows one size to be made permachine. If multiple sizes are required, multiple machines assembled ina fixed pattern are required.

3. One manufacturer named Superior Processing Equipment manufactured amachined called the Rock-It Corn Grader in the 1960's. This machinewould have the closest resemblance to the patent application with thefollowing differences. This machine was only available in one size withone size of screens. The screens used were either tapered round holes orv-rib slotted holes. A limited number of different holes sizes weeavailable for this machine. The screen cleaning mechanism utilized anassembly of traveling rubber bars that tapped the bottom of the screens.This machine was only available with two screen decks with two screenlayers in each deck. Each screen was 20 inches wide and 47 inches long(508 millimeters by 1194 millimeters).

4. The Rock-It style of machine is no longer made nor is parts availablefor the few remaining machines. The Rock-It grader is also consideredobsolete due to the high maintenance, slow capacity, and lack ofaccuracy due to the short screens.

5. The cylinder style of machine crates too much tumbling action whichresults in mechanical damage to the seed. This damage significantlyreduces the ability of the seed to germinate and drops the quality belowactable levels for sale. The cylinder style of machine does not have anyflexibility and as the seed sizing changes due to differing hybridcharacteristics, capacity is reduced and efficiency is reduced due tothe machines not running at optimum capacity.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

1. This is a new method for sizing corn seed and other seeds. The systemutilizes modular flat screen machines that can be assembled incombinations of 1 to 4 machines. The design and specification of themodules is important to the screen cleaning and sizing efficiency of thesystem. Each module has multiple screen layers and multiple product flowoptions. The flexibility of the machines as well as the unique assemblyof the modules creates the ability to size the corn seed based on theindividual characteristics of the seed lot. This flexibility results inhigher sizing accuracy, capacity, higher seed quality, and number ofsizes of seed than is currently possible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A: Drawing showing current cylinder sizing machine assembly.

FIG. 2A: Drawing showing flow possibilities in a two shoe, two screensper shoe, screening module.

FIG. 2B: Drawing showing flow possibilities in a two shoe, three screensper shoe screening module.

FIG. 2C: Drawing showing flow possibilities in a two shoe, four screensper shoe, screening module.

FIG. 3A: Drawing showing seed sizing flow utilizing two modules.

FIG. 4A: Drawing showing seed sizing flow utilizing three modules.

FIG. 5A: Drawing showing seed sizing flow utilizing four modules.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

1. This method is for the assembling a system of flat screen modules forthe sizing of corn seed and other seeds by differences in seed thicknessand width. The results of this method of seed sizing are more sizingflexibility, higher system capacity, and higher seed quality. Thedrawings show several different sizing flows that are possible with thismethod. Since corn seed and other seed types that would use this systemare an agricultural product, the seed changes from year to year, amongdiffering growing locations, and among differing seed genetics.

2. This method of seed sizing requires a screen modular machine that hasspecific characteristics to be effective and capture the benefits of thesystem. Currently there are only two manufacturers that build machinesthat have these specifications. The manufacturers are Damas A/S locatedin Faaborg, Denmark and Westrup A/S located in Slagelse, Denmark. Themachine needs to have the following specifications: adjustable feedingsystem to accurately meter the seed across the full width of thescreens, shoes that will hold several screens and be accessible to allowfor ease of screen changes, a drive system that will shake the screensin a reciprocating manner at a speed of 250 to 330 motions per minuteand a distance of 1 3/16 inch (30 millimeters), screens sloped in thedirect of seed flow of 2 to 8 degrees. The screens need to be cleanedand vibrated with rubber balls that are of a specific compound, size,and compartment size. The screens need to be punched and assembled in aparticular way and of a particular material.

3. The arrangement of the screens is one of the most important featuresof the modular machine. By having the ability to have multiple screenlayers arranged in multiple flow patterns, the operator can adjust themachine to fit the needs of the seed. This fitting of the modules to theseed is significantly different to all existing seed sizing systems.Each screen layer needs to have the material from the screen to becollected in removable chutes. This allows the discharges of the screensto be kept separate and directed to differing locations. Since eachscreen shoe can have differing numbers of screen layers, dividers toallow the screens to be used in parallel or series flow need to be usedfor this flexibility.

4. The more modules and the more screens in each shoe of the modules thehigher the capacity of the system and the greater the number ofpotential sizes. The flow of the seed through the screens and thelocations of the collection chutes allow this to occur. This flexibilityfeature of the method allows the system to be adjusted to match thecharacteristics of the particular seed due to the variability of thisagricultural product.

5. Each location that is sizing corn seed or other seed types will needto determine their particular needs to select how to best assemble themodules to meet their sizing characteristics and capacity requirements.From this information the basic system will be assembled and theoperator will utilize the flow options of the modules to change thesystem to meet differing seed requirements. Due to the modular design ofthe machines, how they are installed is also flexible in regards tolocation of the machines, location of the holding bins, and the size andlocation of the material handling or spouting units.

6. The standard size modular machine is 134 inches (3400 millimeters)long by 77 inches (1956 millimeters) wide by 94 1/2 inches (2400millimeters) tall.

Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance withthe invention a method that fully satisfies the aims and advantageslisted. While this method has been described in conjunction withspecific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives,modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in theart in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intendedto embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fallwithin the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims:

1. Corn seed is produced and sized for sale to farmer growers forplanting to produce corn plants and resultant grain.
 2. The seed inclaim 1 must germinate to produce a viable plant.
 3. The seed in claim 1is sized for plantability, purity of type, and to improve theperformance of secondary conditioning equipment.
 4. The seed in claim 1is sized by width using round hole screens and by thickness usingslotted hole screens.
 5. The seed in claim 4 currently is sizedutilizing cylinder screens available in sizes that range in incrementsof 0.5/64 s of an inch. This means that there is a different screen sizeavailable every 0.20 millimeters. This new method allows use of flatscreens that are available in size increments of 0.10 millimeters. Thisavailability increases the sizing flexibility and accuracy.
 6. Thescreens listed in claim 5 are made of material that is cold rolled lowcarbon steel that has an open area of 40 percent and a metal thicknessof 20 gauge (0.0359 inches or 0.091 millimeters). This material toconform to ASTM A366 requirements. The material may also be galvanizedand the thickness will then be 0.0396 (0.100 millimeters) and conform toASTM A525 requirements.
 7. A modular machine with multiple screensinstalled in one or more shoes holds the screens in claim
 5. 8. Themodular machine in claim 7 has multiple pans and discharge chutes thatcan be added or removed to allow the screens listed in claim 5 to allowthe screens to be used in parallel or series product flow.
 9. Themodular-machine in claim 7 is to have a reciprocating drive system thatcreates a back and forth motion with a travel distance of 1 3/16 inches(30 millimeters). This drive system should be adjustable in speed from250 to 330 motions per minute (RPM).
 10. The modular machine in claim 7is to have an adjustable feeding system that allows the seeds to be fedat varying rates in a uniform manner across the entire screen width. 11.The modular machine in claim 7 is to utilize a rubber ball screencleaning and vibrating system. Rubber balls of 1 to 1.25 inches (25 to30 millimeters) are to be contained in multiple compartments locatedunder the screens listed in claim
 5. The compartments are to be nolarger than 12 inches by 6 inches (300 millimeters by 150 millimeters).The rubber balls are to be made of material to give adequate bounceunder temperature conditions the machine is operating.
 12. The modularmachine listed in claim 7 is to have the screens installed in a downwardsloping angle in the direction of seed travel of between 2 to 8 degrees.It is helpful to have this angle adjustable but not imperative.
 13. Themodular machine listed in claim 7 is combines with two or more modularmachines of like kind to create a sizing system to make from two to 10seed sizes. The installation of these modules needs to be in a way thatby spouting or additional material handling equipment the seed sizesfrom the screen chutes listed in claim 8 can be transferred to otherparts of the preceding ore succeeding modules.
 14. The differing seedsizes created by the assembly of modular machines listed in claim 13needs to be collected in individual holding bins or other types ofvessels for additional conditioning.
 15. Some of the seed sizes createdin the system listed in claim 13 may need to have additional sizingcompleted. The system will have a way to return the seed to the modularmachine or machines. The screens will need to be changed when theadditional sizing is performed.
 16. The screens listed in claim 5 andused in the modular machine listed in claim 7 and assembled as listed inclaim 13, are available in several width to accomplish differingcapacity of the machines. The total length of the screens is 94 1/2inches (2400 millimeters). This total length is normally made up byusing three sections to allow the screens to be handled and changed. Thetotal length of screens is important to the efficiency of the screenseparation.
 17. The rubber balls listed in claim 11 create a vibrationin the screens listed in claim 6 to help the seed find and move throughthe differing hole sizes. This vibration increases the accuracy and thecapacity of the screens.
 18. The quality of the seed is improved in thissystem as listed in claim 13 over cylinder styles of sizing due to theflow of the seed across the perforated screens and the elimination ofthe tumbling of the seed as found in a cylinder style of machine. 19.The quality of the seed is improved in this system as listed in claim 13over cylinder styles of sizing due to the flow of the seed across theperforated screens and the elimination of the sharp edges of the screenmaterial found in a cylinder style of machine.